Chapter 4: The Wife Before Me
My father’s words echoed through the phone.
“You were never his first wife.””
For a moment, I couldn’t understand the sentence.
The backyard noise disappeared.
The people watching disappeared.
Even Daniel disappeared.
There was only that one impossible statement hanging between my father and me.
“Dad… what did you say?””
Daniel took a step forward.
“Emily, don’t listen to him.””
I looked at my husband.
Not the man I loved.
Not the man I married.
The stranger standing in front of me.
My father’s voice remained calm.
“Emily, go somewhere private.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“No. Tell me now.””
A long pause.
Then he said the words that changed everything.
“Daniel Carter was married before.””
My stomach twisted.
“That’s impossible.””
“I checked the records myself.””
I looked at Daniel.
His face had lost all color.
“Who?””
He didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
I lowered the phone slightly.
“Who was she, Daniel?””
His jaw tightened.
“Emily, I can explain.””
“Who was she?””
Margaret suddenly stepped between us.
“This is ridiculous.””
I turned toward her.
“You knew.””
Her expression hardened.
“Watch your accusations.””
“No.””
My voice became steadier.
“You knew everything.””
Daniel looked at his mother.
“Mom, stop.””
But Margaret wasn’t looking at him anymore.
She was looking at me like I had become a problem she needed to remove.
“You don’t understand this family.””
I almost smiled.
“I understand more than I did ten minutes ago.””
My father spoke again through the phone.
“Emily, the first wife was Olivia Hart.””
The world stopped.
Olivia.
My former best friend.
The woman in the photographs.
The woman carrying Daniel’s child.
I stared at Daniel.
“She was your wife?””
His silence was unbearable.
“Daniel.””
Finally, he whispered.
“Yes.””
A sharp pain moved through my chest.
Not because of Olivia.
Because of all the lies.
“You told me you had never been married.””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
He had no answer.
“After we had a baby? After I signed papers? After you got everything you wanted?””
“That’s not fair.””
I laughed.
“Fair?””
The word sounded strange.
“Your mother smashed a cake into my face because I’m carrying a girl.””
I pointed at him.
“You cheated on me with your ex-wife.””
Then I looked at Margaret.
“And your family hid it.””
Margaret folded her arms.
“You’re making this dramatic.””
I stared at her.
“Dramatic?””
She sighed.
“Daniel’s first marriage was complicated.””
“Complicated?””
I looked at the photograph.
“He got another woman pregnant.””
Margaret’s eyes narrowed.
“You have no idea what happened.””
“Then explain.””
Silence.
Again.
Always silence.
My father interrupted.
“Emily, there’s more.””
I closed my eyes.
Of course there was.
There was always more.
“What else?””
“The marriage records show something unusual.””
I waited.
“Daniel’s divorce was never finalized.””
The air left my lungs.
“What?””
Daniel immediately stepped forward.
“That’s not true.””
My father continued.
“The paperwork was filed but never completed.””
I looked at Daniel.
“You married me while still married to Olivia?””
His face changed.
Not anger.
Fear.
“Emily, listen.””
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“No, I’m done listening.””
The guests who remained were watching silently.
Some looked uncomfortable.
Some looked horrified.
But nobody looked more shocked than Daniel.
Because he finally realized I knew the truth.
I walked toward the table and picked up my purse.
Margaret blocked my way.
“Where do you think you’re going?””
I stared at her.
“Home.””
“This is your home.””
I looked around the mansion.
The expensive decorations.
The perfect flowers.
The fake smiles.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“This was never my home.””
Margaret smiled coldly.
“You’re emotional.””
“I’m pregnant.””
I stepped closer.
“And I just found out my husband has been lying to me since the day we met.””
Daniel reached for me.
“Emily, please.””
I moved away.
“Don’t touch me.””
The words hurt him.
Good.
For the first time, I wanted him to feel something.
My father spoke softly.
“Emily, the men are still there. They can take you anywhere.””
I looked at the black SUVs waiting by the driveway.
Then I looked back at Daniel.
“I want the truth.””
Daniel swallowed.
“What?””
“Everything.””
I pointed at him.
“Your marriage. Olivia. The baby.
My money. Your mother.””
Margaret’s eyes flickered.
“My money?””
I smiled.
“Yes.””
Her expression changed.
Because she realized I knew there was more.
My father’s voice lowered.
“Emily, there is another document in the folder.””
I opened it.
The final page had a signature.
Daniel Carter.
My hands went cold.
“What is this?””
Nobody answered.
I read the title.
And my heart stopped.
It was a legal agreement signed three years earlier.
Before I met Daniel.
Before our wedding.
Before my daughter existed.
A document that explained exactly why Daniel married me.
And at the bottom was one sentence.
May you like
The sentence that destroyed the last piece of trust I had left.
*“The marriage will proceed as planned once Emily Bennett is secured as the heir to Bennett Holdings.””*
